Every Morning

Each morning I roll out of bed about 6:30am. I’ve already been awake since 3 since my body has never left Austin time. I throw on some clothes, slip on my shoes, and walk down my narrow street, past the hydrangeas and Japanese Maples outside my neighbor's door, past the altar and Buddha on my block, and around the corner to the “boulangerie” by my house....even if it's pouring rain.

They know me pretty well by now. Each morning I am like a stray puppy waiting at the window for their doors to open for business. As I walk in, I am overtaken by what I can only imagine heaven smells like.

I am greeted with:

“Ohayo Gozaimasu” おはようございます(Good Morning)

…as the chef is pulling the tray of croissants “kurowassan” out of the oven seemingly just for me.

Every morning I take two. As if it were her sole purpose on this planet, the lovely hostess wraps them each carefully and individually tapes each bag as if they were being gift wrapped for a very special person.

Once I get home, despite my best efforts at delicacy, I tear open the bag and while trying to be ever so careful, half the croissant “kurowassan” crumbles into my bag.

The warm, buttery goodness of the remaining half is completely worth the sacrifice.

It is why I buy two. Two dollars well spent…..every morning.